Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive medical imaging technique that provides detailed information of clinically relevant images of an organism, both anatomically and functionally, without the use of ionizing radiation. MRI is the only imaging modality having an ability to image the entire body at deeper penetration levels, which is not possible with CT or Ultrasound. The current market of MRI is growing at a slower pace owing to changing healthcare reforms and global economic crisis. Nevertheless, thanks to the technological advancements, which resulted in the emergence of dedicated MR systems, wide-bore closed systems and diverse open MR systems with zero boil off property that not only enable to image structurally and functionally the entire body at deeper penetrations for different medical applications, but also facilitate in minimal use of liquid helium by the systems.

MRI is one of the medical devices that use notable amount helium to cool the large superconducting magnet at the core of the device. Global helium shortage would result in the increase in costs of MRI installations and patient care in hospitals, which even force hospitals to turn down treatments involving the use of MRI, affecting the global MR sector severely as there is no alternative to Helium for cooling the MR systems.

With no end to the helium shortage in sight, several manufacturers such as GE Healthcare and Siemens Healthcare are developing alternative technologies and magnet materials that offer zero boil off features, which helps in reducing the usage of helium for MRI systems. MRI has found its way into surgical applications and as well as in diffusion and perfusion imaging. It is being combined with other modalities such as PET, SPECT and ultrasound to achieve new heights of image clarity.

Closed systems account for the largest share of the total market in 2013 due to high clinical value delivered by the systems. However open MR systems are expected to witness the highest growth rate owing to rising demand by physicians for claustrophobic and elder patients.

North America commands the market of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Market, followed closely by Europe. In developing economies such as China, Japan, India, Australia and Brazil, the adoption of Magnetic Resonance Imaging equipment is likely to grow owing to the rising incidences of neurological, oncological, and cardiac diseases in these regions. The global MRI is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.56% from 2013 reaching approximately $5.24 billion by 2018.

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